Shoppers turn out to mobile market in Chatham, Auburn Gresham

A refurbished CTA bus that offers fruit and vegetables has been making stops on the South Side for only a few weeks, but already the demand for this fresh food is high.

Fresh Moves, a mobile food market that has been serving the West Side for more than a year, started stopping on the South Side in the fall after the city donated a second bus to the cause.

The South Side bus visited Chatham and Auburn Gresham on Tuesday. One hourlong stop in Chatham saw more than 15 shoppers, according to a spokeswoman for Chicago real estate firm Pangea, which partnered with Fresh Moves on these stops.

The hottest seller so far on the South Side? Pomegranates, which cost three for $1 in season and 75 cents to $1 each out of season.

"That's something that sells out regularly," said Sacha McLeod, 36, who drives the Fresh Moves bus. Grapes and greens are also hot items among customers, which tend to be senior citizens and families, McLeod said.

Last week, the bus, which sells kiwis, bananas and tomatoes, saw a crowd of more than 100 people on 63rd Street, McLeod said. A stop in Roseland also drew buzz.

"The people didn't stop coming," McLeod said.

Fresh Moves was created by a group of community activists who wanted to bring fresh food to Chicago areas deemed to be food deserts.